Episode 259. Al's Insights #6

Hey, real quick, enjoy the upcoming episode. If you haven't yet, give us a five star review. Jump on Amazon, itunes, Spotify, anywhere where you're listening to this. Or you could alternatively look at Facebook, Instagram, Other ways to promote your love and appreciation for hpf. If you're aligned with a message and you love what you see, take care. Have an amazing day night, weekday weekend. Whenever you listen to this and enjoy this upcoming episode because there's some absolute gold nuggets that you're going to take away. Welcome to another one of Al's insights. In this one we have three, three key things that I would love to run through with you today that I've got written down. I use my notes section of my phone quite a lot. If anything ever comes to mind, bang, jot it down. If I have pen and paper, I'll use that. I still really enjoy that. I think it's a beautiful process. However, the phone is very convenient when I don't have that around. And there are three key things I want to go through on Al's insights. I'm gonna say for another episode. I had a man. It was actually quite funny because doing HPF with so many men for many years now, like it's just the exposure and what we've gone through. The interesting part is like what is really categorizing what the best things would be to share with someone. So I was out in public, had a man who saw my jumper, my hoodie, HBF and said hey man, what is all this about? And it essentially great conversation led to him father young children saying what advice do you have for me as a father? Or what's, what's your best advice? And you know, this. Make sure you fucking sitting down for this one. I've actually really, I don't know how much I've actually really ever been asked for my advice. Now inside of hpf, of course, you know, like it's, it's, this is the service that, that I'm living and willing to die for. But, but outside, outside of it. And it's not, it's no one's fault or anything too. It's not that the men are too proud who I talked to about it. It was just really interesting how open and receptive this, this young or younger man was who said hey man, would love some advice. What's your, you've done. All of this stuff is like you know, in, in because he was short on time, he said in 60 seconds and I wasn't some sort of elevator pitch or hey Join HPF or tell me about HPF or sell me. And I was like, mate, genuinely, what would be your greatest, greatest piece of advice? I was like, oh man, that's a. So fuck, how do I, how do I sum that up? So I'm going through historically all the things that we've done, all of our protocols, our values, all that sort of stuff, and I'm gonna save that for another episode and just dive deep into each one and why, why I believe that's a, this will stand the test of time. I'm very big on that. Not, not that we've ever gone back on our, our words with hpf. We've. We've got a pretty fucking rock solid core in what we stand for. But, but things do change, things do evolve. And it's not that too. It's not saying, hey, these are the absolutes. I've done sessions on that before, but I found that really, really interesting. So I'll save that for another time because I think that'll be powerful. Men. Take it or leave it. You're listening to this. You obviously get some sort of value out of what we, what I, what HBF represents and what we've got to say. But that's a real interesting one because straight away it's just got me thinking and hopefully this is just as an opener, really thought provoking for you too. It got me thinking about my son. I was like, ah, what would I give Roman and at what age and what stage of each age bracket in his life would I give him the information that I should that would serve him best at that time? You know, like when they're a teenager. Okay, well, as a 13 year old, they give him different advice to a 14 year old or 15 year old, like just that little. I don't know if you guys remember going through that. There's a big shift, you know, even sexually with your hormones. You know, if we're talking averages, some bloom a bit earlier, some a bit later. But yeah, it's, you know, just thinking about that stuff and I was definitely a late bloomer, but still I had the hormones and everything. When I probably hit 14, that's really different to 12. So you could be 12 and six months and then you could just turn 14 and just in that 18 month bracket, you're completely different. So it really had me thinking, I don't know, like, he's so young at this stage, like, what am I doing? Am I coaching a 4 year old? But it's interesting, man, to think, okay, what advice would I Give, not, not wait and wait and wait and. Okay, son, here's your advice on your married on, on your wedding day. You're married now. Like, yeah, it was really interesting. So I'll share that on another episode. Men having a fourth. How crazy. How crazy, right? Oh, I'm all in on life, the road to 10. I've got to get 10 and then move to America to get some free health care. Apparently I don't know the exact policy they have there. But yes, for those of you I posted a post publicly. But for those who may not know, I'm actually going to be a father again. So gents, here we are ripping into 40 this year in August and got a little princess. We're having a little girl who's going to be due right around cozy 4.0, would you believe? It was so funny when, when that. When the due date came and Kryn asked about it's December 3rd, but she always ends up giving birth early. She said, hey, so what does this mean for cozy? I was like, what do you mean? Hard to just change everything and change the dates. I said, oh, we'll just come down and we can do a natural birth down in Jindabine or we can have the baby early, which will probably happen I think early November. The Bubs will come or hold on for dear life and I'll see if I've got any friends that have helicopters. But yes, boys going to be having another one. Another little princess. I really selfishly love having daughters. I feel such a. I don't know about you guys who have girls, but I feel such a, a loving bond with, with my little angels. Not always angels, but yes, sometimes terrors. But with, with Stella and Lillian and I think that's something that it doesn't take away from Roman, but that's something that's a real thing, you know, for a father and his daughter and, and the love and the affection and, and they soften me, they really do, which, which is valuable, you know. Like I was pretty, I was pretty hardcore. I was a big fucking pussy when I was young, but then became pretty, pretty pretty hard, which, which doesn't mean being tough doesn't, doesn't make you better or worse. Just too much Viking, right? And brought it back to center to be the chief. But yeah, I love that because as we all know, as I get older it gets harder. So I've got quite a loving close bond with my little girls but I know as they get older that that will not drift, it will just change, it will evolve. Whereas for my. For my little man, Rome, we've got a great connection now, but I know that will. That will change as he gets older, and it'll actually strengthen because he's becoming his father. So it's not that I love my more now and less as they're older and Roman less now, more as he's older, but. But, yeah, I mean, part of me wanted Roman to have a little. Little dude, little. Little man, little brother to play with, but also, it's. It's. He's our one son, and I'm blessed either way, you know? I'm telling you, man, what a gift from God we had. So we had. We had a couple of eggs left, and the lady said, oh, you've got one really strong one. What do you want to do? I was like, oh, well, you know, if it's a sign. We put a few signs out there, and we got those back and said, okay, well, let's give it a crack. Zero expectations. And next thing you know, Crin's textbook presenting. Well, bloods are all good. Okay, it's taken. Okay, we're all good. We're on. And then she ran out of some tablets right around the time when. At our Brisbane event, and we nearly lost it because if her progesterone levels go below 2, you have your period. And she went from 20 down to 2. And I couldn't believe how much me and her were really worried and upset, which really showed how much we actually were invested and. And did care about this. So, boys, here we are. Going. How crazy. How crazy. What a time to be alive. Though I wouldn't change a thing. Nothing drives me more than my family and nothing inspires me more than the men of HPF who continue the journey to evolve as well and grow. And you don't have to have children to be all in on life. Like I say that as a joke earlier, but, yeah, I thought, fuck, well, why not, man? What an even greater story. I got some pretty fucking crazy stories. I'll roll them out one day. I've rolled out some, but I'll roll them all out, you know, in the not too far, in the not too distant future. But, yeah, it's gonna be crazy. So I'm gonna push really hard. Then you probably won't see me for five months. I'll be a zombie from November to Easter. But, yes, man wanted to share that news, and I'm not sure why I felt compelled to share that. I know you're here to get some golden nuggets and whatnot, but I, you know, it's in a world filled with distortion and shit and bullshit. Like, I, I really enjoy sharing my life with all of you men, even if it is on this podcast platform and even if I never meet you, you know. You know, it's something that doesn't scare me. You know, nothing has driven me more in my life more than having children. The countless times HPF should have died but didn't was one, I absolutely know that someone was watching over me and had my back and looking over my shoulder, helping me from above. But two, yeah, man, like fuck. Being so invested in life with that skin in the game, you know, maybe that'll be a book when I'm an old man. Cause I'm sitting there going, what's, what is the formula? Just like the advice, what is the formula you would give someone? And I'm looking over my life, I'm like, okay, well, I don't think you necessarily have to have nine operations and go through certain points of pain. But I'm like, well, one is definitely trying to be the best in the world at something. I really pursued and pushed that with rugby league. Runway was short, extremely short, and then had the trauma of the injuries. But I gotta tell you, that really helped. I think diving into business is a really powerful thing. I'm not saying you all need to own businesses, but I think bit hard now that we're older, but when being younger, I'm thinking younger. For a young man, just chancing your arm with business is great. I think running a gym is fucking amazing. Like, guys, gyms are so fucking hard to run. They're so, so hard to run. You've got to learn advertising, marketing, communication skills. You got to sell yourself. Excuse me, you got to learn the types of people that you want to connect with, communicate with and drive results with, you know, which at the start, we just want to help everyone, right? That's what everyone says. So you're trying to communicate with perimenopausal mums and then work with teenage boys who want to make the local A grade footy team. And then you're working with fathers who are busy and they come in twice a week and they don't lose any fucking weight because they come in twice a week, train in the gym, and then they go and do whatever. Like it's such a funny dynamic. And then you got young, young men and young women. And then, you know, you could have young men and young women having relationships inside of the gym that can get messy. And then you've got finances You've got building teams, you, you've got trying to scale your team so it's not just you and you're wearing different mates. Unreal. Like I, I, you know, it's not a business I would stay in personally, but I, I would absolutely support Roman in starting his own gym because it's not about the money you make because I'll let you in on a secret. There is none. But not, not, not if that's a traditional model that you, you take and you're not extremely diligent with, with where you extend yourself. Like one of the gyms I had, the rent alone was like 90 grand. Like gyms are doing pretty well. If they bring 250 to 450 in above 450k a year, they're doing all right. Like you're definitely in the upper echelon above 8, 900. And I'm talking about small business owners, not franchises. Like a franchise wouldn't even hit that. But what I mean is like, okay, I'm one massive gym with 5,000 members and all that sort of stuff. But, but yeah, crazy, crazy. So it's interesting boys, because I look back and really is the biggest driver for me in life having children coupled with an obsession for growth and life and someone and something who is depending on me, counting on me. I do miss that innocent stage. Even though I won't sleep of something just being really innocently, almost parasitically dependent on you, there is a keenness about that besides the times when you're wiping up black and olive green colored shit. So man, just wanted to share that with you. I think that's important to just be really open and real with my life, my journey, where we're at. HPF is growing. It's growing at a pretty crazy rate that includes challenges, leadership. So I feel blessed for the timing where it's not that I needed that to motivate me, but I feel blessed for the timing that I do have an amazing team and I want to give a shout out to all the coaches and the team because there's no way I would have the confidence to be able to pull the trigger on something like this, which is all things being good and right, rest of your life investment. So big shout out to the boys there because we're certainly pioneering into a new age with HPF and the evolution that we have. So Here we go. 3. See, if you didn't know, now you do. 4 and huge respect whether you have one or 12 children. It's what a gift it is what A gift it is. And I feel blessed, whether I live for another year or 60 to have the opportunity. I really do. Boys with these insights. Maybe that's the first insight. The gift of life and making a choice. I think that ties. Actually, no, that does. Look, the reason why I wanted to share that with you is because this very first one, it really is important. So this first one, it does tie to why I wanted to share the news with you guys. Here it is. Al's insights. Very first one. There's a difference between being pushed back in life and choosing to take a backward step. Don't ever take a backward step. So this is. I can't remember when. Cause it's been a little while since I've done a podcast. Maybe this is last week. And I'm not sure what inspired me writing this down, but it's. It's so powerful. There, There is a difference. Boys like and it's powerful on. On two different fronts. One is the, the. The. The freedom and liberation of going, you know what? Like, hey, we're all going to get. We're all gonna get punched in the face. We're all gonna suffer the L. We're all gonna take a loss. You know, that's a powerful thing because not believing that robs you of your power. Hey, there's something wrong with me. It's always me. Why aren't I, you know, like, it's. It really does. So not believing that, hey, everyone's gonna get punched in the face in life really isolates you and the problems you face. To say, not poor me and cry, poor me, but to say, hey, man, what the fuck am I doing wrong? I must be some sort of failure and loser. And look, we've. We've probably all. Maybe you haven't, but I certainly have had those thoughts. I've got some crazy notes in here from only a couple of years ago which says, these are the facts. The facts were brutal. You know, I was just, just, just giving it to myself for, for. I think it was at the time when I had the health issues and I was just, you know, you're not strong enough. You're not good enough. I thought you'd be better, thought you'd beat this illness and blah, blah. So that, that was not fair. But at the time, that was a frustration and that was an inward attack in criticism, which we all have. You got to be careful of that, man. But there really is a difference between being pushed back in life and choosing to take a backward step. So, one, it's very empowering because the getting pushed back in life is a real thing. You. You will all face setbacks, all of us. And it's. It's so fucking hard, man. It's. It's so fucking hard. Like, even with HPF growing it to where it is now, let alone where we want to take it. Oh, man, it's just so hard. Like, it's amazing and we're performing well and we're going to crush this, but it's so fucking hard because what's required to grow is always different to what you believe is the next step in growth. It's not that you're unaware. Some things you are. Oh, I didn't know I had to grow that way. Right. You get a real weird curveball or challenge or, you know, and I hope that I had that with my first three. I don't have that as much with my fourth. Yeah, they haul out operations, all that. Issues with their ears, colic. Roman had something called a cleft palate coupled with tracheomalacia, two of the rarest things in the world, which basically has a soft esophagus and a gap with the damn wall of the esophagus and the windpipe, which means, mate, he had no food pipe that was strong and the food and things, and anything that went down his throat was going into his windpipe. Hey, it's years, years of tests and every winter in hospital, almost all winter, you know, like, trying to figure out this, this, this issue because you'd always have these respiratory issues and, and, you know, we've got members blessing where their children have died. So it's not like there's some massive sliding scale in life. It's not about comparing. But yeah, it is really hard with these setbacks you get in life. So whether it's business, whether it's your family, whether it's health, there, there are challenges that we're all going to. So honor that. Honor that. That is the walk. Honor this, men, and honor that. That is the path that we've chosen to take. And if you don't choose to take it, it'll take you anyway. Okay. I'm not going to walk that path. Cool. Stand still and watch the elements come and fucking eat you alive. Right? It's way worse because you are going to die then. And you've got no leg muscles. You haven't moved. So there is a difference between being pushed back in life. First thing, you will get pushed back in life, and it's not your fault how you respond. You need to own and how and what you do with your response in your follow through is your responsibility 100%. It's not your fault. This is life. This is the path that we walk. And the second thing that is very powerful about this statement is choosing to take a backward step. Don't ever take a backward step. Is you do have a choice on that response. Like I said, it's not, hey, yeah, I'm responsible for. And I own my response. Yeah, but it's not, I own the response. I own a response that I choose. Like, we might think that we're limited with our choices at times, but you're not. Okay, what do I do? I've got to do this, I've got to do that. Maybe there's a third option. Maybe there's a fourth. Maybe there's strategies and tactics to the second which will improve that second choice. But that is important. Yeah, we're responsible. Yeah, you take ownership. Things won't always happen to you. Happen because of you, Happen for you. I get all that. But it's like, well, hang on, there is always a choice. There's a difference between being pushed back in life and choosing to take a backward step. Don't ever take a backward step. And then the third thing, which is not powerful in a sense, but a great reminder for us all, is one of those choices is a backward step. Sometimes you got to move back to move forward and take a step to the side to move forward. Look, I get all those common cliches. But I got to say though, sometimes when we look at the gravity of life and as a whole, the magnitude of this earth and life itself, we look at some of the choices where we took a backward step, and it's like, fuck me, I didn't take a backward step. I turned around. I turned around, sprinted, and did a fucking long jump into the. A long jump into the sand of comfort in the present moment. Because when I look at this whole picture of the entire fucking world and the like, the magnitude of this life and then the significance of the problems I'm making out, maybe they're not as significant as I think. Maybe they are smaller. They're real. My feelings and emotions can be real and valid and warranted, but do I have to hold on to that? And how big is it? And then you walk the timeline. Okay, in five minutes, will this matter? Yes. Five hours, five days, five weeks, five months, five years. In 50 years, laying back on your deathbed, will this matter? Fuck no. So what's the problem? Be human. Go through the process. Start your pity Party, hand out limited invites and turn the fucking music off. And telling everyone to get out, pity party's over. That's really important. And one thing I'll say, like, in terms of it's not, hey, we've got embryos, let's just use them and do IVF and we're all in, you know, like it's, it's not. Taking a backward step doesn't automatically equal just fucking jump forward too, is what I'm saying. Don't. We're not here to be fucking idiots and fools. We must take time. We must set situations, we must process things, we must explore options. Due diligence on life, man. Due diligence, be measured and intentional. So not taking a backward step doesn't mean you're sprinting forward either. But I've got to tell you, man, I look at my life as a whole and I've had so much conflict. I've got plenty of people that hate me, but plenty that love me. But who is me? I'm just experiencing life. I have plenty of fuck ups like everyone else, I'm not infallible, but I live more often than not embodying the message of HPF and its purity. And I feel blessed to be part of that community, to remind me and to make a choice every day to embody it and live it. And I look at my life, I've had so much conflict and I've always been willing to stand for something like, yes, I am a bit of an outlaw and so fucking be it, you know, and. And I promise you one thing, fellas, no matter how big we get or, or if I get famous or world stage and all that sort of shit, there will be no appeasement. There will be no fucking bowing down like you see in most of the mainstream or wealthy or people with notoriety who all of a sudden, you look at them, you're like, oh, wow, yeah, you don't have a fucking spine after all. You've just sold out. I promise you that will never happen, that's for sure. But I've never taken a backward step, you know, and maybe I started life by default with a backward step. When I was this young great athlete and I was a gun at soccer. I played it since I was like two. It was like the Tiger woods of soccer. The old man, the Italian, got me in. And the time I was down under sixes, plus my growth spurt, Matt, I was fucking crushing everyone. Yeah, dad has stories. And I do remember, not vividly, but I remember some elements. But that tells stories of where I get on there, I'd score five or six goals and I'd just go back to goal and let everyone else have a laugh when he tells me. So, like, man, I wish I had a really clear. I've got some memories, but I wish I had a really clear like video recording of that. It would have been funny. But maybe that was me. Maybe at 7 and then into 8, 9, 10, 11, became really overweight, really unhealthy, very, very critical of myself, Hated myself. Used to look in the mirror and just like abuse myself. Look at you, you know, you just ate another chocolate. What's wrong with, like, man, it's pretty bad. Like the hate was real, the hate between, yeah, sort of 8 through till 14, started weights around 13, lifting weights and turned the corner through 15, and then became a full blown addict with health, fitness mindset and became an athlete by 17. But those five or six years, man, they were tough. So maybe I started so much in the minuses and became the comeback king, but from there, man, never taken a back footstep. Never, never taken a back foot. A back foot step, a backwards step. It's. I've spoken to people before, even people in HPF have told me. And the only thing, because I know what it feels like, I think I know what it feels like because I was experiencing that for six years. And the common thread I get is, man, when I took that backward step and I pulled away and I reflect on that, the shame I felt, I will never forget the shame and the regret that I felt on bowing out and giving up and quitting and taking a backward step. Now have I stopped doing things? Of course. Like giving up and quitting is more of a fundamental energy, man, it really is. Like, it's different to like, I no longer run gyms, I am no longer a CrossFit athlete, I'm no longer a rugby league athlete. So you could say, oh yeah, you gave that up or you quit that. But in reflection, what I'm talking about is. Or upon reflecting, what I'm talking about is the backward step, my life's way fucking better than when I was a footy, when I was a footy player, my life's way fucking better than when I ran gyms. I thought it was fucking amazing. The people I have, the perspectives, who I've become, the people I've served. So if I've given something up, however, the track record showcases evolution. Or you didn't quit on the most important thing, yourself. Your evolution, your growth and your journey. That's the Best. So I guess to help guide you as well in your North Star. That's how you measure it. Hey, when I gave that thing up four years ago, could be a business opportunity, could be anything. Is my life way fucking better? It can't be a little bit. Cause that becomes subjective, right? Becomes gray. Because you don't know, maybe that business would have taken off. We've got some guys in the community that are umming and ah. And about going all in and that. Fuck, man. Go. Go fucking all in. What are you. What are you waiting for? Scary. Of course it's fucking scary. You know what's scarier? The fucking 10 seconds of regret when that moment hits and you'd have to be on your deathbed. Could be in four years, could be in 14 months, could be in 12 years. Never took a backward step. Never took a backward step with rugby league, with CrossFit, with bouncing back from the injuries, with running the gyms. Like I said, with the conflict that I have with people, people trying to push me away, shut me down, wanting me to fail, sabotaging, even hpf. And it's not. Don't take a backward step on you. Like there's plenty of times I've apologized to my wife. This isn't about. I'm fucking, you know, I'm unshakable. In. In. It's my way or the highway. You know, I'm this. This dictator who's here to conquer and lord it over everyone. I'm talking about your personal journey. Or as the book. It's a beautiful book. Your personal legend, the Alchemist. I really like that book. I'm probably due for a reread. I read that several times a year. It's just a beautiful read. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, your personal legend. Don't ever take a backward step. The common theme is the same. I am filled with shame and guilt. And I feel like, or felt like at the time because a lot of the boys bounce back too, in life. All of our guys did. Plenty of our guys joined hpf and plenty haven't had that moment. But there is a difference between being pushed back in life. Because that happens. There'll always be setbacks. They'll come by the truckloads. But difference between that and choosing to take a backward step without going all in, exploring all options, going above and beyond, doing whatever it takes, doing what's required, whatever it takes and what's required at that time of that journey. Like we all have our own snapshot in our timelines. It's a Moment in time that gets captured. It's a moment in time that gets captured. You'll always have opportunities. You won't always have the same ones. Don't ever take that backward step, man. Like, I, I, I don't say this arrogantly because I have failed so many fucking times in life and make mistakes all the time and make decisions all the time, and I stand behind them. I follow through and I've got the fucking balls to step up, make decisions, make calls, and follow through and goal in on them. But I'll tell you right now, I don't know what losing feels like. I'm not saying this to be arrogant. I've failed heaps. But I don't know how to lose. It's like a block. And I want you to use this just on this. I want you to take this, partition it however you want in your brain, and use this as a, as a tool, as a skill, not a fake, until you make it as a bargaining chip with a little voice inside. Use it however you want. But in my own head, I've created this block where in my head I've got this belief that says, al, you don't know how to fucking stop. You don't know when to quit. You don't know how to fucking lose. And I don't. I've never taken a backward step. I've failed heaps, man. I didn't play Fucking busted hard. Didn't play rugby league for first grade. First first grade trial. Did my knee against the Bulldogs. Done. It's closest I ever got. All right, Failed. But I don't know how to lose. Zoom out. Bigger picture of life. I don't know. I don't know that. I don't know how to calculate. I don't, I don't have the muscles. I don't have the mechanics to push my leg behind me and step backwards. I know it sounds silly, but you've got to be ignorant in good ways. Like, I'm sorry, I don't know how to fucking lose. It's another challenge. Well, thank you for the gift. And challenge is growth. On the other side is growth. On the other side is an opportunity to become more. Always, always the hardest things you face. On the other side is the greatest gift. And gifts you don't even know that existence waiting for you extended. But, boys, that's the first one. That's a big one. Second one, being a great leader. I hope that served you well. Second one, being a great leader is more than just taking on the most risk. It's about helping others minimize theirs so they're successful in what they're pursuing in life. Man, I really like that. Like, you guys don't have to be running businesses. This is everything. You're your mother and father, you become a leader as they become older and maybe less capable or possibly even frail. Like, you have leadership fucking through your veins, through your blood honour that you don't have to run a fucking business with money to be a leader. You're a leader to your wife, to your children, to your brothers and sisters, to your mother and father, to the society that's around you, your community, man. People you do work with or work for. There are leadership qualities that are required. And those leadership qualities matter so much. Because following through on that, to be a great leader really paves the way for other people to build their legacy, to build their destiny. Like, it's, it's, it's, it's fucking hard, man. Like, the risk I take on versus all my, all my staff or our staff or employees, it's fucking through the, through the roof, the roof that I'm about to have another kid. Like, it's. Man, I'm fucking all in. I'm all in on life. Like, I don't, I don't want or need side hustles. This is the one thing. And I've learned that painfully over the years. Start supplements. We've got an amazing pre workout rise that was just for the members. We might have some spare. So still on the website, you can grab some personal shameless plug here. I think it's highperformancefather store. Yeah, that's fucking amazing. I actually, you know, not selfishly, but got it for the members. But man, I have that, that rise. Pre workout's the fucking best. I have it every time I train. Like, don't buy the tubs, I'll have the fucking rest, man. I love that stuff. But in the past, yes, built a supplements company, tried to push it. A skincare company, mate, what the fuck? The lessons we learn. HBF would be fucking 10 years ahead if I just focused on the one thing. But I'm telling you, man, being a great leader is more than just that. It's more than me going, hey, you know what? If everything dies, I'm fucked. It's more than that. Like, that's what I signed up for and I fucking love that. I love that skin in the game, man. That's why I won't fail. I will not allow it. But it's more than that. It's more than your war Stories and all the great fucking shares that you'll have one day looking back. Because that does matter most to me. Not about having lots of money providing value. That'll happen anyway in some way, shape or form, but regardless of the amount, there's always problems. Doesn't matter. It's the people. It's the journey you took and the people you traveled with. And that's what's really important. Men. Being a great leader, whether it's your business, your family, your children is more about is way more than you. Fucking heavy is the head that wears the crown. And not because of the size of the jewels, but because of the responsibilities and what's required of you. I love that saying. It's more than that. It's about helping others minimize theirs so they're successful in what they're pursuing in life. And it's really hard because what you're trying to build is something that hasn't materialized yet. So I'm trying to minimize Roman's risk by instilling core values, planting seeds. My father did this with me. My greatest quote that I love is the greatest advice. Sorry I ever received is from my father. And the greatest gift I ever received is the unconditional love of my mother. They are the two greatest things in the world. Did we have a crazy household mate? It was like the clash of titans. Dad, six foot one. Mum, six foot, fiery Italian. The fiery firstborn of a. Of a police sergeant of Blacktown growing up. That was my mum. Dad's the fiery Italian fuck. Mate. It was the clash of titans, you know, and not. Not physical abuse, but I'm talking about. Yeah, yeah. There's very high. Is lots of love and lots of craziness and hate. Crazy, but amazing. Amazing. Greatest parents ever. Like dad. Mum and dad had it all. They had. They had Viking and Panda. It's. It's a common. Yeah, it's a universal energy, but, man. Wow. Fuck. Unbelievable. The unconditional love of my mother, despite all the craziness of four boys in the household. Like, mate, crazy. It's fucking crazy. My brother's crash tackling me through gyprock walls. That's the shit. Like, I understand why mum and dad would get heated either with us or with each other. So dad would come home to holes in the. I'm not talking about like, you know, you punched a hole in the wall. Like, my torso has been smashed through. Like, Give me a second. Fuck. Holy shit, man. The wall's like fucking 80cm wide and 1.2 high. A massive hole ripped through the kitchen wall. And I remember the look on Dad's face. Fuck. Crazy. So crazy times. Sorry, man. Good memories. My brother tackled me too, by the way. He put a good hit on the. He got me good. The unconditional love of my mother and then my father. Greatest advice ever, son. You can do anything you want in this world if you put your mind to it. Isn't that crazy? So fucking simple. So simple, man. So I'm trying to look at Roman and go, this hasn't materialized yet. I'm investing in my son, but it's not materialized yet. How can I help him mitigate risk, but give him the life lessons and the value that I should not try and steal from him? You're not here to bubble wrap your children, your workers, your colleagues, your mum, your dad. Like mum and dad, of course I want to protect them and look after them as they get older. But like men, you. You need to allow people the opportunity to grow as well. Smart man learns from mistakes, wise man learns from others. I know that both. The wisest man learns from both his own mistakes and others whilst he's in the fucking arena. You need both. And it's really hard. How can I minimize unnecessary risk? Right. We're all going to take risks in life, but it's about being a great leader, is about helping others minimize their risks so they're successful in what they're pursuing in. And my team here, like, fuck, what a journey. Yeah. With my team, as we grow, as we evolve, as we build. They are, they are really. I got a huge respect for them. They investing. They're investing their fucking life in me under the banner of hpf. I deeply and sincerely respect that. And they're going to have the fucking right of a life that no other people who simply, quote, unquote, work for a company would get. And it's already that fucking rare in what we have. And. And that's even before the materialization of rewards that are down the track for all of us in building this monumental movement across the world, you know, so. And that's not just bound by money and not just status. The significance, the impact, the fulfillment, the people you journey with. So even them, love, love the team. It's hard because I'm like, fuck, we. You're developing pathways to minimize risk and equally provide opportunities and rewards that haven't quite materialized yet. This is what makes marriage really hard. So I'm just giving you a few different examples. Marriage really hard. Because a lot of you men may not have been quote, unquote, men of your word, or maybe too much of your word, but not following through because you're stretched, you're over committed or best intentions providing what was not asked for. Whether it's money, which is typically us in the circle of service but without the skill sets with the modern world bullshit we need to combat on expectations and relationship dynamics. But that's a really powerful one, man. I hope this serves you well. I know this is a long owl's insights, but we're about to wrap this up because the last one's quite short. There's a difference between being pushed back in life and choosing to take a backward step. Don't ever take a backward step. Number two, being a great leader is more than just taking on the most risk. It's about helping others minimise theirs so they're successful in what they're pursuing. In your fucking duty, that's your responsibility. And it's hard. You got to sell people on it, right? I got to sell Roman on some of the things I want him to do like eating meat and doing push ups and sit ups and playing around. But yeah, eating well, eating healthy, minimizing tech time. It's a constant influence, leadership, negotiate, communicate type of thing. But that is valuable, man. Being a great leader is also going, how can I not make it easier but help others like get that big fucking machete out and cut some of the weeds out for them so they have a great path as well because they look up to you and they rely on you or depend on you in some capacity, personal or professional. And final one I wrote, which is interesting. I don't know if this was for me or just something that I really liked and wanted to share. I am obsessed with growth. That doesn't mean that I'm perfect. I relax plenty of times too. It's not like I work 20 hour days and don't sleep at all. But. But this one's interesting. I'll never be good enough to do more if I don't want to become more. Man, I can't fucking wait to become more. Every day is a chance to become more. Every day I wake up, I'm like, fuck me, how can I become more? Like, it's. It seems so silly, doesn't it? Like guys, it seems really trivial, really small. But I'm telling you, if you keep planting that seed every fucking day, your mentality is insane. It's worlds apart from everyday people. It is worlds apart from average people, from the norm. Please listen to me when I say this. You don't want to be above average. That's a fucking stupid measurement. I'm an above average man. Sorry, so what does that mean? Well, I'm above average, so what are you measuring against average? The fuck kind of measurement is that? Who would want to measure themselves against average shit? Like, be careful with what you wish for. So when you're thinking like obsession, growth, evolution, like this fucking life, what a gift, all in. I've only got one shot, man. You gotta think elite, you gotta think top of the top, top of the top. Not just some above average. It's like, yeah, but look at where average is. Pretty fucking hard not to be above average, right? Let those people do their thing. Let them die before they're buried. That's their choice. I fucking wish they would turn things around, but that's their freedom. That's their right. But this is important because when the chips are down, when life's pushing you back, when you got leadership requirements of you, when shit's hitting the fucking fan, punched in the face again, when you have all these problems and challenges stacking up, you need to remind yourself, hey, hang on. I will never be good enough to do more if I don't want to become more. So become so much better than your circumstances so that A, you can fucking crush what's ahead of you right now and conquer the challenges you face. And B, you're already prepped and primed to at least go toe to toe with the new challenge, the new beast, the new boss, the new level that's just around the corner waiting for you. Because he fucking is. I'm telling you, he is. Whether you want to grow or not, there is a boss waiting for you around the corner. The difference is average people keep facing the same fucking boss and losing, they keep replaying the same level. And that's why they stay there, because they're comfortable and they'll chance their, ah, maybe I'll get this magic gem that'll pop up or I don't know any fucking computer game these days, but maybe I'll get this special sword and like. No, no, won't happen. You won't win the lottery. You won't get lucky. Your wife just won't say she loves you, just fucking because you got married 12 years ago. You'll keep facing the same boss and you'll keep losing. But if you keep growing, guess what? We all have bosses to face. You've all got another level. But regardless of what level you're on, there's always a beast at the end to conquer. And that level could take you A week could take you a month could take you a year. But there's always going to be a new beast. There's always going to be a beast to conquer. I'll never be good enough to do more if I don't want to become more. If I don't want to be more, I'll never get more. And that's. That's not just more volume of things. It's more impact, more fulfillment, more. It's not just more rewards, more meaning, more purpose in life. It's bigger than a frequency or quantity of things. I'll never be good enough to do More isn't just more work, isn't just more love, isn't just more holidays. I'll never be good enough to do more if I don't want to be more powerful. One man. Hope this serves you well. A bit longer for Al's insights. We'll wrap this up because I understand these short, sharp. We got some good feedback. You guys enjoy these as well. But yeah, I hope this serves you well. Three powerful pieces. It's good to be back. I love doing these podcasts. If you haven't picked up on this and haven't noticed, there's so much, man, I've got like, books of topics. I've got podcasts for the next 500 episodes. But that's not because of me. It's because of the incredible men inside HPF and the things I continue to learn every day from them and from my family. It really is a blessing and an honor. Thank you guys. I hope you enjoyed this. And yeah, let's stay posted. Hey, see if the. Well, I'll do more podcasts beforehand, but keep you updated on how the Bubs is going. It's been really tough, actually. That's. That has hindered my podcast abilities. The first trimester has been really painful. It's probably been the worst one ever for Corinne. So that makes it tough. It really does. But this is life, you know? So what do I do? I do a few less podcasts. I triple down on the family and be more measured, even more measured and intentional with work and with leadership. And then when the baby comes, what if I can only do 2, 4, 6 hours a day and then I've got to do family stuff? Well, then my level of leadership needs, needs to 5, 15, 20x so I can work through people and lead and mentor and guide and have more impact with less time. It's a beautiful and painful gift and game of life, but I wouldn't change it for a second and wouldn't change anything that has happened in the past either. And if you keep growing and evolving, you won't really have any rights to have regrets, at least not in the form that you think they should exist, because you've done something about your situation from the past. You've grown, you've evolved, you've adapted, you become more. But I hope those three one liners or one liners, but there's three, three key things really hit home. Even if you pick one, just sit on that and like always, sit, reflect and apply. Take the action, man, and it will certainly serve you well. I'll see you in the next one. Cheers, guys. Well, that wraps up another episode. And just as we wind this down, I want you to just reflect and think back through some of the golden nuggets, some of the revelations, some of the sore points, some of the things that might have hit home with you, and then just look at ways that you can apply a different set of actions to change your position, change your circumstances, change your feelings, and change the facts. These episodes are done with your best interest at heart and there's always something we can get from that. Maybe it's not the first time, maybe it's the second time. We've had members listen to episodes four or five times and then it finally clicks. But either way, I hope you got a lot of value out of this. And also if this is something that you really want to solidify inside of your life, repetition is the key. You've listened to it. Write down your revelations, think about them, read them, speak them, believe in the changes that you will carve out in the action plan of those revelations to create change in your life and then share that. And when you teach, you learn the second time, right? So teaching and showing this to others you love and care about is the greatest way that you can remember and make sure you consist of consistently learn and relearn what is it's true and what is it is important to you in your heart. Take care, have an amazing day, night, weekday weekend, and I'll see you for another one soon. Cheers.